80 A PRACTICAL TREATISE 



verted into a substance of the same mild nature as that from 

 which it was obtained — in all its properties exactly resembling 

 chalk.* 



This operation is called slacking, or slaking; and lime, 

 when deprived of its scorching quality, is termed slaked-lime, 

 or, in the language of chemists, effete. Instead of watering it 

 in heaps, the practice which generally prevails is to lay the 

 shells upon a fallow, in small hillocks of about a bushel and a 

 half each, either thrown up around the circumference of each 

 heap, or covered up immediately with some fresh soil made 

 very fine, which, when laid on moderately thick, should be 

 clapped close down with the back of the spade, so as to exclude 

 the admission of either air or rain. In this state it may remain 

 for a few days, care being taken during that time to keep every 

 part of the heaps tight and sound, when it will be found that 

 the moisture of the earth will have completely slaked it. 

 Although it may be thought that this covering of the lime is 

 unnecessary, it yet has this use — that without it tlie rain would 

 form crusts over the heaps, which would not only prevent the 

 moisture from penetrating regularly through them, but would 

 also hinder them from being pulverized without considerable 

 difficQlty. It will then be fit for use, and when spread over 

 the field it should be immediately ploughed in with a shallow 

 furrow, and well stirred with the harrows in every direction. 

 Upon an 18-feet ridge these heaps will be the same distance, 

 or 6 yards asunder, from centre to centre, if about 200 bushels 

 be laid on per acre; and so on when other quantities are 

 applied. Instead of slaking the lime in this manner, it has 

 however been recommended 'to lay it down in a long heap, or 

 mound, on one side of the field on which it is to be applied. 

 Two labourers are then employed to turn the mound, and a 

 third waters it. When the whole has been thus gone over, it 

 is allowed to lie for four or five days, after uhich it is again 

 turned, and if any part of the lime should be found to be still 

 unslaked, more water is added.' 



From this it will be perceived, that one chief cause which 

 renders the burning of lime necessary, arises fi'om the extreme 

 difficulty of obtaining the powder without the process of 

 grinding ; but by being thus more finely divided, it can also be 

 more evenly diffused over the soil, with which, therefore, it 



*\Vhen moistened with sea-water, lime yields more alkali (soda) than 

 when treated with common water ; and is said to have been used in some 

 cases with more benefit as manure. 



